Distortable ice tray and control mechanism therefor



DISTORTABLE ICE TRAY AND CONTROL MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed July 20, 1959 T. B. CHACE March 27, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Thomas B; Cfiace 5 w; A, A1

March 27, 1962 T. B. CHACE 3,026,684

DISTORTABLE ICE TRAY AND CONTROL MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed July 20, 1959 s Sheets-Sheet 2 .Ez-snzar Thomas B. Cbace E z;- 1, a fih; kind Hi7;

026,684 DISTORTABLE ICE TRAY AND CONTROL MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed July 20, 1959 T- B. CHACE March 27, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States atent 3,026,684 DISTORTABLE ICE TRAY AND CONTROL MECHANISM THEREFOR Thomas B. Chace, Winnetka, Ill., assignor to The Dole Valve Company, Morton Grove, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed July 20, 1959, Ser. No. 828,264 8 Claims. (Cl. 62-132) This invention relates to an ice making apparatus and more particularly relates to an automatic ice making apparatus of the type adapted to be mounted within the usual freezing compartment of a household refrigerator or the like.

Automatic ice makers of the type adapted to be used in household refrigerators have recently found wide acceptance in the ice making field but their marketability has been somewhat restricted due to the fact that the ice makers which have thus far been devised have been relatively expensive to produce and have had several undesirable features which it is the object of this invention to eliminate.

Some ice makers have been devised having invertible molds while others have been devised in which the ice tray rotates through a predetermined arc subsequent to freezing of the water supplied thereto. In the former instance, the flexible molds are inverted subsequent to the freezing of water therein to eject the frozen ice blocks while, in the latter instance, the temperature of the ice tray walls, to which individual ice blocks adhere, is raised by the heat of water directed to other adjacent molds disposed in heat transfer relation therewith to eject the frozen ice blocks therefrom.

Various problems are encountered in the use of either of the dilferent types of ice makers mentioned above.

In an invertible type ice tray the relatively short life of the flexible mold walls is a factor to be considered. Furthermore, for reasons which are not important at this juncture, it has been found necessary to provide a slug valve in association with this type of tray to provide a means for filling the tray and for inverting the flexible molds with a measured amount of water to provide proper operation of the ice making apparatus.

In the rotatable or pivotal type of ice tray it has, in the past, also been found highly desirable to utilize a slug valve for filling the ice tray with a measured amount of fluid during each cycle of operation. In addition, some means must generally be provided for heating the water prior to dispensing the same to the ice tray so that the heat of water filling one mold will melt the surfaces of an ice block in an adjacent mold to free the same. If no means is provided for heating the water prior to directing it to the ice tray, then some means must generally be provided for heating the ice tray itself during each cycle of operation to effect ejection of the ice blocks in the downwardly facing molds. One of the disadvantages of this type of ice tray is that each of the ice blocks are Wet subsequent to ejection thereof from the ice tray so that some means must be provided to dry the ice blocks before they are dropped into a common tray to prevent them from sticking together.

The present invention embodies principles of each of these prior types of ice making mechanisms, incorporating advantages of each type of ice maker and, similarly, eliminating many of the disadvantages thereof.

The present invention is directed to an ice making mechanism comprising an elongated tray formed of a flexible material and having a plurality of ice molds formed therein and facing in one direction. Subsequent to freezing of water disposed in the several ice molds the elongated tray is rotated about its longitudinal axis. A rotating mechanism is so designed and associated with the tray that one end of the tray is rotated through a given are While the other end of the tray is rotated through a substantially greater arc.

The differential degree of rotation of the opposite ends of the ice tray results in a twisting action thereby mechanically and forcibly breaking the bond between the frozen ice blocks in the individual molds and the walls of the ice tray to which they adhere by a shearing action.

Thus, I have devised an ice making apparatus wherein the tray is rotated to permit gravitational ejection of the ice blocks but wherein the bond between the ice blocks and the ice tray is broken by a forcible mechanical shearing action rather than by means of heat application to the ice blocks. As a result, ice blocks are ejected into a collection tray in a dry state so that sticking of the ice blocks therein is prevented while, at the same time, the life of the tray is relatively quite long due to the fact that the stress on the tray resulting from flexure thereof is not highly localized.

The mechanism for effecting rotatable movement of the ice tray and filling of the ice tray is more fully described hereafter but comprises generally a ratchet wheel which is aflixed to one end of the rotatable ice tray and which is cooperable with a ratchet type gear rack connected to or forming an extension of a power member of a thermal sensitive element. The thermal sensitive element has its temperature sensing portion immersed in water which in turn is disposed in the same freezing compartment as the rotatable ice tray so that the power element thereof is rendered sensitive to the temperature of water Within which the element is disposed.

A resistor heater is associated with the heat sensitive portion of the thermal sensing element to heat the thermally expansible material therein to selectively efiect extensible movement of the power member. Thus, upon heating of the resistor heater the power element will move extensibly from the thermal sensitive element and the ratchet gear rack formed on the outer end of the power member acting against the ratchet Wheel affixed to the ice tray will act to rotate the end of the ice tray to which the ratcheting wheel is connected through an arc determined by the amount of extensible movement of the power member or the length of the gear rack. A limiting stop is associated with the opposite end of the flexible ice tray from that to which the ratcheting wheel is connected so that the entire ice tray is permitted to travel through a arc. The limiting stop thereupon contacts the outer free end of the ice tray to prevent further rotatable movement thereof while the power member continues to move extensibly to rotate the end of the ice tray to which the ratchet wheel is connected through an arc of (such a rotational differential between the opposed ends of the ice tray having been found to be the most satisfactory in practice).

The power member, immediately adjacent the lowermost portion of the gear rack formed thereon, has a relieved portion formed therein so that when the power member has moved to such an extent to free the gear rack from the ratcheting gear the ratcheting gear will be free to return to its original position. A relatively heavy return spring is associated with the ratcheting gear to so return the ratcheting gear, and of course the ice tray to which it is positively connected, to the normal or original position wherein the molds within the ice tray are facing in an upward direction.

A switch is associated with the thermal sensitive element so that when the power member has moved extensibly to such a position to permit free return of the ratcheting gear the switch will be actuated by an element extending from the power member to deenergize the resistor heater and thereby permit retractable move ment of the power member.

Upon deenergizatton of the resistor heater the power member will begin to move retractably with respect to the casing of the thermal sensing element as the temperature of water within which the element is immersed begins to cool. The time interval for return of the power member to its original position, will of course be relatively constant since it will be controlled as a function of the length of time which it takes for the water, within which the thermal sensing element is immersed, to cool.

Since the time interval for return of the power member is relatively constant I have associated a second switch with a cam formed on the power member so that as the cam on the power member moves past the depressible plunger in the second switch a solenoid will be actuated to permit filling of the ice tray. This second switch is, of course, so designed that it operates only every other time the plunger is depressibly moved so that filling of the ice tray is not effected upon extensible movement of the power member.

When the power member has returned to its most retracted position the first switch is again actuated by an element extensible from the power member so that the resistor heater is once again energized and a new cycle of operation begins.

While the ice tray may be formed of any suitable substance such as rubber or plastic or the like, I have found that plastic is the most satisfactory in use since there is less tendency for the frozen ice blocks to adhere to a plastic mold than to a rubber mold. I have further found that of the plastics having good flexure characteristics, linear polyethylene is the most satisfactory substance which may be used to form the ice tray. Linear polyethylene is quite strong although it has good flexure characteristics. In addition, I have found that frozen ice blocks do not tend to adhere very strongly to linear polyethylene. Furthermore, linear polyethylene exhibits substantially no fatigue subsequent to distortion thereof so that by forming the tray of such a substance the tray will return under its own resiliency to its molded configuration.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide an automatic ice making apparatus in which frozen ice blocks are mechanically and forcibly ejected from their individual molds and in which the ice tray is rotated during each freezing cycle to permit the ejected ice blocks to drop to a collection tray.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a heat motor for effectingthe ejection operation which is also operable to actuate a switch for controlling the energization of a solenoid operable to dispense water to the ice tray to fill the molds therein.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a means for rotating an ice tray which comprises a cooperating ratchet gear and a gear rack wherein the gear rack is affixed to the power member of a thermal sensitive element and in which means are provided to permit rotatable movement of the ratchet gear through a predetermined arc and which are operable to release the ratcheting gear at a predetermined rotated position thereof to permit return movement of the ice tray.

Yet another object of the invention-resides in the formation of the above mentioned flexible ice tray out of linear polyethylene.

These and other objects of the invention will appear from time to time as the following specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings,

wherein: 7

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of an ice making apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention shown mounted in the freezing compartment of a household refrigerator, or the like;

FIG. 2 is a fragmental front elevational view of the mechanism for rotating the ice tray showing several cooperating components in a different position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the ice making apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 which is viewed from lines IIIIII in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view which is similar in nature to FIG. 3 but which shows the power element in an extended position from the thermal sensitive element permitting free rotation of the ratcheting gear;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view through the ice tray illustrated in FIG. 1 which is taken along lines VV of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view which is similar in nature to FIG. 5 but which shows the flexible ice tray in a twisted position to effect ejection of ice blocks therefrom; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a wiring circuit such as might be employed to operate the automatic ice tray which will hereinafter be more fully described.

Referring particularly to FIG. 1, an ice making apparatus including an ice tray 10 and an operating mechanism 11 is shown as being positioned within a freezing compartment 12, which may comprise the freezing compartment of an ordinary household refrigerator.

A support 13 is disposed within the freezing compartment 12 and has a pair of upstanding spaced legs 14 and 15 extending therefrom upon which the ice making apparatus is mounted and upon which a collection tray 19 is mounted.

As shown most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 5, the ice tray 10 comprises an integral linear polyethylene member having a plurality of serially aligned molds 16 formed therein which are separated from one another by rounded transverse partition walls 17. An inverted U-bend is formed along the longitudinal edges of the ice tray to prevent longitudinal flexure of the tray while permitting desired transverse fiexure.

The supports 14 and 15 have bearings 20 and 21 seated within axially aligned apertures formed therein which, in turn, are adapted to receive shafts 22 and 23, respectively, which are in turn bonded or otherwise rigidly secured to the opposite ends of the ice tray 10.

The shaft 22, which constitutes the output power shaft for effecting rotatable movement of the ice tray 10, extends outwardly of the support 14 and has a ratchet gear 25 affixed to the outer end thereof. As viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4, the ratchet gear 25 has its peripheral teeth so formed that the gear will be rotated in a clockwise direction by a tangentially applied force.

A horizontal support 27 is affixed to the upstanding leg 14 and has an aperture formed therein which is adapted to receive the guide portion 30 of a thermal sensitive power unit 31. The power unit 31 is of a type which is well known in the art as a power or high motion type of solid filled thermal sensitive element and includes, in addition to the guide portion 30, a heat sensing portion 32 which contains a fusible thermally expansible material. A piston or power member 33 is guided for reciprocal movement within the guide portion 30 and is extensible from the guide portion 30 upon heating of the thermal sensing portion 32 to a predetermined temperature. A return spring 30a is disposed within the guide portion 30 and acts against a collar on the power member 33 to normally bias the power member 33 to its most retracted position as is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

A ratchet type gear rack 35 is formed on the upper end of the power member 33 and is cooperable with the peripheral gear teeth on the ratchet gear 25 to drive the ratchet gear in a clockwise direction upon upward move-- ment of the power member 33 from the guide portion 30 of the thermal sensitive unit 31.

For reasons which will hereinafter become apparent, the power member 33 is somewhat loosely guided within the guide portion 30 of the thermal sensitive element 31. However, a leaf spring 37a is affixed to the guide portion 30 of the thermal sensitive element 31 on the opposite side thereof from the ratchet gear 25 and the inturned end of the leaf spring acts to normally bias the gear rack 35 into engagement with the ratchet gear 25 so that the gear rack 35 can ratchet past the gear 25 when the power member 33 is urged to move retractably within the guide 30.

It is important to note that the power member 33 is relieved as at 37 at a point immediately adjacent the lowermost portion of the gear rack 35 so that when the power member 33 has moved extensively to the position illustrated in FIGURE 4 the gear rack 35 is freed from the peripheral gear teeth on the ratchet gear 25. A spring 38 encircles the outer end of the shaft 22 and has one end afllxed rigidly in the bearing 20 while the other end is atfixed to a point on the shaft 22. The spring 33 acts to bias the shaft 22 (as viewed in FIGURES 3 and 4) in a counterclockwise direction so that when the power member 33 has been moved to the position illustrated in FIGURE 4 wherein the relieved portion 37 is adjacent the ratchet gear 25 the spring will act to rotate the shaft 22, the gear 25, and consequently the ice tray 10 in a counterclockwise direction. A stop may, of course, be provided on one of the supporting legs to limit the degree of counterclockwise rotatable movement of aforementioned elements to the position illustrated in FIGURES 1 and so that the spring 38 will normally bias the ice tray and its associated elements to a position wherein the'rnolds 16 within the ice tray face upwardly in a water receiving position.

A resistor heater 39 is wound about the heat sensing portion 32 of the thermal sensing unit 31 to provide a means for raising the temperature of the thermally ex pansible material therein to effect extensible movement of the power member 33.

The heat sensing portion 32 is also disposed within a container 49 which may be filled with water to thereby render the thermal sensing unit sensitive to the temperature of water within the freezing compartment 12 so that the thermal sensing unit will operate as a function, in eifect, of the temperature of water within the ice molds 16.

Referring particularly to FIG. 7, it will be noted that the resistor heater 39 is energized through a pair of serially connected switches 42 and 43. The switch 42 is a line switch which controls the operation of the entire ice making apparatus while the switch 43 is a double pole selector switch operable to effect energization of the resistor heater 39, or in the alternative, a solenoid coil 44, for reasons which will hereinafter become apparent.

The solenoid coil 44 is associated with a valve 45 (illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 1) in such a manner that energization of the solenoid coil will effect opening of the valve to permit fluid flow through a filler spout 47 from a fluid line 48 to direct water to the ice tray 10. A switch 48 is disposed in the power line to the solenoid 44 intermediate the solenoid coil and the switch 43 and is operated as a function of the position of the power member 33 in the manner which will hereafter be described.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 1, the switch 43 is mounted on a wall of the freezing compartment 12 and has a pivotal switch arm 49 extending therefrom which is pivotal to effect movement of the movable contact within the switch to one of the two positions illustrated in FIG. 7.

Pivotal movement of the switch arm 49 is effected by means of abutment of the switch arm with earns 54) and 50a which protrude from the power member 33 so that the switch arm is urged to its counterclockwise rotated position upon upward movement of the power member 33, and so that, conversely, the switch arm is urged to the position illustrated in FIG. 1 upon retractable downward movement of the power member 33. The switch 43 is so positioned on the side wall of the freezing compartment 12 that when the switch arm 49 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 1 the movable contact therein is disposed in the position illustrated in full lines in FIG. 7so that the resistor heater 39 is energized.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the switch 48 is mounted on the upstanding leg 14 and has a depressible plunger 54 protruding therefrom which is depressible to effect closure of the movable contact within the switch to permit energization of the solenoid coil 44. It will be understood, however, that the switch 48 is of a type which is operable only on every second depressional movement of the plunger 54. A cam 55 having sloping cam faces at the opposite ends thereof, extends outwardly from the power member 33 and is engageable with the plunger 54 to depressionally move the same. Since the movable contact within the switch 43 is only disposed in the closed circuit position when the plunger 54 is depressed, energization of the solenoid coil 44 can only be effected during those intervals when the plunger 54 is abutting the cam 55.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1, 5 and 6 of the drawings, it will he noted that a stop pin 60 is aflixed to the upstanding leg 15 of the support 13 and that its axis is disposed vertically above a line drawn through the axis of the shaft 23. A complementary abutment member 61 is affixed to the end of the ice tray 10 disposed adjacent the upstanding leg 15 which is cooperable with the stop pin 60 to prevent movement of the end of the ice tray to which it is afiixed through a greater arc than As hereinbefore noted I have found it desirable to so arrange the cooperating ratchet gear 25 and gear rack 35 that the end of the ice tray adjacent the upstanding wall 14 will be moved through approximately during each cycle of operation.

It will thus be apparent that when the power member 33 moves extensibly from the thermal sensing unit 31 the cooperating gear rack 35 and ratchet gear 25 will act to transmit linear motion of the power member to rotatable motion of the power output shaft 22 to rotate the ice tray 10 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 5 and 6. When the abutment member 61 has moved into engagement with the stop pin 60, further rotational movement of the end of the ice tray adjacent the upstanding leg 15 will be prevented but the end of the tray adjacent the leg 14 will continue to rotatably move until the gear rack 35 has moved out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 25 as is shown in FIG. 4. Such continued rotation of the end of the ice tray adjacent the upstanding leg 14 will, therefore, act to twist the ice tray to deform the same in the manner illustrated in FIG. 6 to effect forcible ejection of the ice blocks disposed within the individual ice molds 16 by a shearing action.

From the foregoing, and assuming that the ice mold lit has frozen ice blocks disposed within the individual ice molds 16, the operation of the ice making apparatus will be as follows: Upon closure of the line switch 42 heating of the resistor heater 39 will be effected to initiate upward extensible movement of the power member 33. As the power member 33 moves upwardly the gear rack 35 disposed in mesh with the peripheral gear teeth on the ratchet gear 25 will act to rotatably move the shaft 22 to effect rotatable movement of the entire ice tray. When the end of the ice tray disposed adjacent the upstanding leg 15 has been rotated to such a position that the abutment member 61 has moved into engagement with the stop pin 60, further rotational movement of that end of the ice tray will be prevented. Further upward movement of the power member will, therefore, act to further rotatably move the end of the ice tray adjacent the leg 14 and twist the tray 10 thereby breaking the bond between the ice blocks within the respective molds 16 and the walls of those molds by a shearing action. The ice blocks thus ejected from the tray 10 will thereupon fall into the collection tray 19.

Subsequently, the gear rack 35 will disengage itself from the peripheral teeth on the ratchet gear 25 and will move tothe position illustrated in FIG. 4 wherein the relieved portion 37 of the power member 33 is disposed adjacent the ratchet gear 25 to permit spring urged return rotatable movement of the shaft 22, and consequently the ice tray to the normal position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5. As shown most clearly in FIG. 1 when the power member 33 has moved to the upper end of its stroke the cam 50a will engage the arm 49 of the switch 4-3 to pivotally move the arm and thereby effect deenergization of the resistor heater 39 and simultaneously place the movable Contact therein in a position to effect energization of the solenoid coil 44.

As hereinbefore noted, the switch 48 is so arranged that it is actuated only on every other depressible movement of the plunger 54. It will therefore be understood that the switch 48 is so arranged that the switch will not be actuated by the depressional movement of the plunger 54 upon passage of the cam 55 therepast when the power member is moving upwardly and extensibly from the thermal sensing power unit 31.

Upon deenergization of the resistor heater 39 the return spring within the thermal sensing unit 31 will act to initiate retractable movement of the power member 33. It will be apparent that when the power member 33 is moving retractably from the position illustrated in FIG. 4 to the position illustrated in FIG. 3 the cam 55 will engage the plunger 54 as it passes thereby to close the movable contact of the switch 48 and to thereby effect energization of the solenoid coil 44. When the solenoid coil 44 is energized water will be permitted to flow from the conduit 48 through the filler spout 47 into the ice tray to fill the same.

It has been found that the time interval required for return retractable movement of the power member 33 may be predetermined within relatively close limits, at least insofar as the initial retractable movement thereof is concerned. Accordingly, the amount of water to be dispensed to the ice tray will be determined by the length of time during which the cam 55 is in engagement with the plunger 54.

After the cam 55 has passed by the plunger 54 the contact within the switch 48 will again move to the open circuit position and the solenoid will be deenergized to thereby shut off fluid to the ice tray lit).

The water within which the heat sensing portion 32 of the thermal sensing unit 31 is disposed will, of course, have been heated by energization of the resistor heater 39 and will for all practical purposes cool at the same rate as the water within the ice tray 16. Complete retractable movement of the power member 33 will, therefore, be prevented until the water within the container 40 has had time to freeze (such a feature being determined by the chemical composition of the fusible thermally expansible material within the unit 31).

When the fluid within the container 40 has frozen, however, the power member 33 will retractably move to move the cam 50 into abutment with the pivotal switch arm 49 and to pivot the switch arm to the position illustrated in FIG. 1 to thereby close the energizing circuit to the resistor heater 39 to initiate another cycle of operation.

it will be understood that this embodiment of the invention has been used for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications and variations in the present invention may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts thereof.

I claim as my invention:

1. An ice making apparatus comprising a support, a flexible ice tray having a first end and a second end journalled for rotatable and longitudinal movement along its longitudinal axis within said support in a freezing compartment by means which include a shaft coupled to and extending along the longitudinal axis of said first end of said ice tray and support means for said shaft formed in said support, and means coupling said second end of said ice tray to said support which substantially prevents longitudinal movement of said second end, means for filling said ice tray with water and freezing the water into ice blocks, and means for rotating the opposite ends of said tray through differential arcs to distort said tray and effect ejection of frozen ice blocks therefrom.

2. An ice making apparatus comprising a support, a flexible ice tray having a first end and a second end journalled for rotatable and longitudinal movement along its longitudinal axis within said support in a freezing compartment, means for filling said ice tray with water and freezing the water into ice blocks, means for applying torque to said first end of said ice tray to rotate said first end thereof through a predetermined arc, and means for limiting rotational movement of said second end of said ice tray to a smaller arc to distort said tray and thereby effect ejection of frozen ice blocks therefrom, said second end of said ice tray being journalled for rotation and longitudinal movement within said support by means which include a shaft coupled to and extending along the longitudinal axis of said second end of said ice tray and support means for said shaft formed in said support, and means coupling said first end of said ice tray to said support in such a manner that longitudinal movement of said first end is substantially prevented.

3. An ice making apparatus comprising a support, a flexible ice tray having a first end and a second end journalled along its longitudinal axis within said support in a freezing compartment, means for filling said ice tray with water, means for applying torque to said first end of said ice tray to rotate said first end thereof through an are greater than and means for limiting rotational movement of said second end of said ice tray to 90 or less to distort said tray and thereby effect ejection of frozen ice blocks therefrom said second end of said ice tray being journalled for rotational and longitudinal movement within said support by means which include a shaft coupled to and extending along the longitudinal axis of said second end of said ice tray and support means for said shaft formed in said support, and said first end of said ice tray being coupled to said support in such a manner that longitudinal movement of said first end is substantially prevented.

4-. An ice making apparatus comprising a support, a flexible ice tray journalled within said support at its longitudinal axis and disposed within a freezing compartment, means for filling said tray with water, a ratchet gear connected to one end of said ice tray, a thermal sensitive power unit having an element extensible therefrom upon predetermined ambient temperature conditions therearound, means sensitizing said power unit to fluid temperature within the freezing compartment, heater means associated with said power unit for heating same to effect extensible movement of said element, a gear rack formed on the outer end of said element cooperable with said ratchet gear to rotate said gear through a predetermined are upon extensible movement of said element, means biasing said ice tray to a normal liquid receiving position, means for limiting rotational movement of the other end of said tray to a smaller arc to distort said tray and thereby effect ejection of frozen ice blocks therefrom, means forming a part of said element for permitting return rotational movement of said ice tray subsequent to movement of said one end thereof through the predetermined arc, and switch means operable as a function of the position of said element for energizing said filling means subsequent to the return of said ice tray to its normal position to effect filling of said tray.

5. An ice making apparatus comprising a support, a flexible ice tray journalled along its longitudinal axis within said support and disposed within a freezing compartment, means for filling said tray with water, a ratchet gear connected to one end of said ice tray, a longitudinally movable gear rack tangentially cooperable with said ratchet gear to rotate said gear through a predetermined are upon longitudinal movement thereof, means biasing said ice tray to a normal liquid receiving position, means for limiting rotational movement of the other end of said tray to a smaller arc to distort said tray and thereby effect ejection of frozen ice blocks therefrom, relief means formed on said gear rack for permitting return rotational movement of said ice tray subsequent to movement of said one end thereof through the predetermined arc, switch means operable as a function of the position of said gear rack for energizing said filling means subse quent to the return of said ice tray to its normal liquid receiving position to effect filling of said tray, and power means for effecting longitudinal movement of said gear rack.

6. An ice making apparatus comprising a support, a flexible ice tray journalled along its longitudinal axis within said support and disposed within a freezing compartment, means for filling said tray with water, a ratchet gear connected to one end of said ice tray, a gear rack tangentially cooperable with said ratchet gear to rotate said gear through a predetermined are upon longitudinal movement of said rack, means biasing said ice tray to a normal liquid receiving position, means for limiting rotational movement of the other end of said ice tray to a smaller arc to distort said tray and thereby effect ejection of frozen ice blocks therefrom, relief means formed on said gear rack for permitting return rotational movement of said ice tray subsequent to movement of said one end thereof through the predetermined arc, switch means operable as a function of the position of said rack for energizing said filling means subsequent to the return of said ice tray to its normal position to effect filling of said tray, thermal sensitive power means connected with said gear rack to effect longitudinal movement thereof, and means sensitizing said power means to the temperature of fluid within the freezing compartment to efiect energization of said power means as a function of the temperature of fluid within said ice tray.

7. An ice making apparatus comprising a support, a flexible plastic ice tray having first and second ends journalled along its longitudinal axis within said support in a freezing compartment by means which include a shaft coupled to and extending along the longitudinal axis of said first end of said ice tray and support means for said shaft formed in said support, and means for coupling said second end of said ice tray to said support in such a manner as to substantially prevent longitudinal movement of said second end, means for filling said ice tray with water and freezing the water into ice blocks, and means for rotating the opposite ends of said tray through differential arcs to distort said tray and thereby effect ejection of frozen ice blocks therefrom.

8. An ice making apparatus comprising a support, a flexible ice tray which has first and second ends and is formed of linear polyethylene journalled along its longitudinal axis within said support in a freezing compartment by means which include a shaft coupled to and extending along .the longitudinal axis of said first end of said ice tray and support means for said shaft formed in said support, and means coupling said second end of said ice tray to said support in such a manner as to substantially prevent longitudinal movement of said second end, means for filling said ice tray with water and freezing the water into ice blocks, and means for rotating the opposite ends of said tray through differential arcs to distort said tray and thereby effect ejection of frozen ice blocks therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 422,524 Happoldt Mar. 4, 1890 1,475,313 Newhard Nov. 27, 1923 2,433,211 Gits Dec. 23, 1947 2,484,017 Copeman Oct. 11, 1949 2,512,212 Molotzak June 20, 1950 2,782,609 Galin Feb. 26, 1957 2,808,707 C-hace Oct. 8, 1957 2,891,385 Nelson June 23, 1959 2,942,435 Nelson June 28, 1960 

